Trevor Stratton, an HIV/AIDS consultant attending the conference, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “In the AIDS movement we have been dealing with death and dying and illness for 30 years, so we know how to mourn our dead and remember our dead and hold them in high esteem and move forward with that sorrow.

"In fact I would say it would embolden the movement even further. "We are warriors on the front line.”

Meanwhile six investigators from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch will assist the probe into how the plane came to crash.

The Metropolitan Police is also liaising with other national forces over the possibility of sending specialist officers to the country to assist with the recovery, identification and repatriation of victims.

There was also Ben Pocock , a second year international business student on his way to Australia for a year abroad as part of his degree; and helicopter pilot Cameron Dalziel, 43, who lived in Malaysia and had been doing some training in the Netherlands.

Barack Obama last night demanded immediate action from Russian president Vladimir Putin as three Russians were blamed for shooting down Flight MH17.

The US President described the deaths as a tragedy of “unspeakable proportions” and insisted there must be a full independent criminal inquiry.

Mr Obama told Putin it was time for him to step in and stop the violence in the war-torn eastern Ukraine.

In a strong message to Putin, Mr Obama said: “We don’t have time for propaganda. We don’t have time for games. When terrible events like this occur, the international community must stand on the side of justice.”

He added: “We are going to make sure that the truth is out.”

(Photo: Daily Mirror)

Russia has warned against any attempts to prejudge an investigation into what brought down MH17, and raised questions about the role of Ukrainianaviation authorities.

At a somber emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that began with ambassadors standing for a moment of silence, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called for an "impartial, open investigation of what happened" on Thursday.

Ambassadors from most of the 11 countries who lost citizens in the incident told the council of their states’ shock and grief.

Churkin asked: "Why did the Ukrainian aviation dispatchers send a passenger flight to an area of military clashes? An area which was being used for carrying out strikes against civilian targets ... and where there were anti-aircraft systems working?"

"International law plans for the possibility of a timely closure by the state of areas that are dangerous for flights. It would seem that there would need to be an investigation not only of the disaster but also the extent to which the Ukrainian aviation authorities carried out their obligations."